Mobility scooter crash latest: Man in 60s injured

A MAN remains in hospital this afternoon with serious head injuries after an accident involving a mobility scooter and a car transporter.

The middle aged driver of the mobility scooter was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre after the smash in Colwick at midday.

It happened near a crossing at the junction of Colwick Loop Road and Mile End Road.

A resident of nearby First Avenue, who asked not to be named, was one of the first one the scene.

The witness was outside his home painting a fence when he saw the accident 50 metres away from his house.

He said: "I heard a bang, looked up, and saw a chap lying there on the crossing. I went over to help him but he wasn't moving. He looked seriously injured.

"I just hope he's OK."

George Walker, 69, who has lived in First Avenue for 25 years, gave the shaken lorry driver a cup of tea after the accident.

He said: "I was sat watching television when I saw the chap crossing appear to fall out of his wheelchair and get hit by the transporter.

"The driver was in so much shock that the police brought him in here for a cup of tea to calm his nerves. He was really shaken up and was taken off in an ambulance."

Tracey Willis, 36, of nearby Sands Close, said: "It's not the first accident to have happened here and it won't be the last. At the end of the day, whatever changes they make here to improve safety won't make a difference until drivers stop whizzing up and down here."

Her husband Robert, 36, added: "Something needs to be done."

Patricia Johnson, 65, of Valeside Gardens, has lived in Colwick for nearly 40 years. She said: "I saw the ambulances and someone lying injured.

"At first I thought it was a pram and feared the worst. But then I saw there a mobility scooter and a gentleman injured."

The victim is described by neighbours as a man in his 60s.

After the incident, traffic was diverted through Netherfield.

Vehicles were backed up along Dale Side Road to the Trent Lane Roundabout and no traffic was moving in either direction this afternoon.

But by 2.30pm, the car transporter was being taken away from the scene and Mile End Road was being reopened.

Cars were being allowed to travel towards Nottingham, but the Colwick Loop Road was still closed in the opposite direction.

Accidents sometimes happen. They just do. I used to cross that stretch of road on my way to work every morning and its just a treacherous stretch of road thats claimed a fair few lives down the years for one reason or another. Best of luck to all concerned.

The lorry driver must feel absolutely dreadful and in this particular instance I'm sure the mobility scooter driver was behaving appropriately and it was a tragic accident
I do reiterate, however, that the drivers of these vehicles need to have a proper test like car drivers do
This may well not be the time to say it but it would be for their own good( in some cases)
I do, however ,think that this is a cdiscussion for some other time